Next, I’ll showing only 2 post in category with the ID 3. You can either put the category ID between the quotation marks, or your can put the category slug name. (If you aren’t sure how to find category IDs, you can see how to do that here.)

This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for !!.. Thank you very much.. I’m currently using this code snippet just as you wrote it..

Using your code with CODE-SNIPPET plugin.. By playing with your code, I can control the amount of POSTs that get displayed on the HomePage..
The problem is that the code is STUCK with display POSTs from category numbered 42, and nothing else..

I tried changing category number, even spelled out the category name, and NO CHANGE ???
Almost seems like the code just controls number of POSTs to display and nothing else !…
Any ideas ? again using your code just as you wrote it…
Been on this for three days already, :-)
Thanks Again !!